Machine for covering heels



June 7, 1938. L. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS -Filed Dec. 30, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1938. 1.. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS a 4 E w.

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L. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS Filed Dec. 30, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Figri f 50} AME/v70? Junev 7, 1938. 1.. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS Filed Dec. 30, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 4' June 7, 1938. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS Filed Dec. 50, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 7, 1938. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Q 9 A W'h Filed Dec. 50, 1935 June 7, 1938. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS Filed Dec. 30, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 7, 1938..

L. J. BAZZONI MACHINE FOR COVERING HEELS Filed Dec. 30, 1935 9. Sheets-Sheet 9' Patented June 7, 1938 UNiTED STATES guests PATENT OFFIE MACHINE FOR. COVERING HEELS Application December 30, 1935, Serial No. 56,739

41 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for covering heels.

In covering wood heels of the Louis type it is customary adhesively to secure a single piece of sheet material commonly known as a cover to the rear and side faces of the unattached heel and then to secure the forward, the top and the bot tom projecting margins of the cover upon the is margins of the breast, the attaching and the toplift receiving faces respectively of the heel. After the partially covered heel has been attached to the shoe, the breast of the same is covered by a flap which is split from the heel end of the sole of the shoe and is adhesively secured to the heel breast.

Heel covering machines of various types have been proposed. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine for applying covers to the rear and side faces of heels of various shapes quicker and more effectively than has heretofore been possible. In accordance with one feature of the present invention the illustrated machine comprises a holder for a heel, a 3 resilient pad for supporting a cover, and means comprising the pad constructed and arranged to apply the cover to the rear face of the heel progr ssively from one end of the heel to the other, and cooperating means for then applying the cover progressively to the sides of the heel. In the illustrated construction the pad is supported by a pair of plates which are spaced by an open ing, the central part of the pad having a depend ing portion which fits within the opening. The

35 heel holder is mounted for movement about an axis to swing the heel against the cover and into the pad, the cover being applied to the rear face of the heel progressively from the attaching end to the tread end of the heel as the heel with the it) pad Wrapped about it is moved into the opening between the pad-supporting plates. The plates are mounted for movement about parallel axes respectively which are disposed at approximately right angles to the axis of rotation of the heel holder. After the cover has been applied to the rear face of the heel, the pad-supporting plates are swung about their respective axes to wrap the cover and the pad about the sides of the heel, the supports being rotated until the projecting margins of the cover have been applied to the respective margins of the attaching, the breast and the top-lift receiving faces of the heel. One type of pad illustrated is provided with a pocket which is filled with sand composed of round particles thereby insuring that the pad may be readily deformed to a considerable extent under pressure of the heel. By eifecting relative swinging movement of the heel and the pad while applying the cover to the heel, the cover is progressively forced against the heel by a tensioned, relatively hard 5 convex surface of the pad. As the convex surface of the pad applies the cover to the heel, it moves along the same in the form of a traveling wave and stretches the cover as it applies the same to the heel, thereby insuring that the cover shall be free from wrinkles. The unlaid portion of the cover is slightly tensioned before it is applied to the heel through the provision of clamps which force the lateral margins of the cover against the pad throughout the covering operation and which are moved under pressure of the pad.

The output of the machine is increased by mounting a plurality of units, each of which comprises one of the cover-applying pads and a pair of pad-supporting plates, upon a turret. Suitable mechanism is also provided for holding the pad in wrapped relation with the heel while the turret is being indexed from an operating station to a discharge station thereby permitting the cover-attaching cement to dry while the cover is forced against the heel. The turret is indexed in timed relation with the cover-applying mechanism of the machine, the operator, after placing the heel in the holder, having only to trip a 30 treadle to set the machine in operation for the purpose of covering the heel and indexing the machine. The above machine covers heels of various shapes quickly and effectively and materially reduces the cost of the heel-covering operation.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodied in an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the illustrated machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the machine; 45 Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine, a portion of which has been broken away and a pad of which has been removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing the positions of the operative parts of the machine after the cover has been applied to the heel;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing one of the units of the turret of the machine positioned at an operating station of the machine;

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, are perspective views illustrating five different stages of the heel-covering operation;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the units of the turret after the heel has been covered;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XIIXII of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified pad;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a heel after it has been covered by the use of the above machine; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the heel shown in Fig. 14 after the projecting margins of the cover have been trimmed flush with the heel.

The illustrated machine is described with reference to applying a celluloid cover to the rear and side faces of a Louis heel 22. During the heel-covering operation, the top, the front and the bottom projecting margins 24, 26 and 28,

respectively (Fig. 14), of the heel are inturned upon and secured to the attaching, the breast and the top-lift receiving faces of the heel 22. After the upstanding portions of the margins of the cover 20 have been trimmed flush with the heel (Fig. 15) and the heel has been attached to a shoe (not shown) the breast of the heel is covered by a flap (not shown) which is split from the grain side of the rear end of the sole of the shoe. Although the machine is illustrated with reference to applying celluloid covers 28 to heels 22 it will be understood that the machine may be used for applying covers of various kinds of material to heels or to work pieces of various shapes.

Preparatory to applying the celluloid cover to the heel, the cover is softened by inserting the same in a bath of a suitable solvent, the edge portions of the heel being previously coated with cement. Before a leather or fabric cover is applied to the heel it is customary to coat the outside face of the heel as well as the inside face of the cover with cement or other suitable adhesive.

The heel to be covered is carried by a heel holder 38 which is mounted for swinging movement about a bearing 32 supported by a bracket 34 which is secured to the main frame 36 of the machine by screws 35 through mechanism which will later be described. The cover to be applied to the heel is placed upon a pad 38 mounted upon supports or plates 40 which are spaced to form an opening 42 (Fig. 3). The pad 38 comprises a central depending portion 44 which is positioned within the opening 42 between the supports 40. The heel 22 which is securely gripped by the holder 30 is forced against the cover 28 and into the central portion of the pad 38 thereby applying the cover to the rear face of the heel progressively from the attaching face of the heel (Figs. 6 and 7) to the top-lift receiving or tread face of the heel.

After the cover has been applied to the rear face of the heel the supports 40, which are provided with trunnions 46 swiveled upon a turret 48, are swung upwardly to wrap the lateral margins of the pad 38 about the sides of the heel, thereby applying the cover 28 progressively to opposite sides of the heel. The supports 48 may be swung upwardly to the vertical positions illustrated in Figs. 4 and 12 in order to insure that the pad 38 shall apply the top, the front, and the bottom projecting margins 24, 26 and 28 of the cover to the attaching, the breast, and the toplift receiving faces, respectively, of the heel. After the cover 20 has been applied to the heel 22 the upstanding margins of the celluloid cover 20 (Fig. 14) are trimmed flush with the heel (Fig. 15).

In order to' insure that the cover-attaching cement shall dry before pressure of the pad against the covered heel is relieved the turret 4B is provided with six cover-wrapping units which are successively moved to and past the covering station 50, the turret being intermittently actuated by suitable indexing mechanism which is operated in timed relation with the heel-covering mechanism and will be described later.

Power to operate the machine is supplied through a drive shaft 52 (Fig. l). A worm 54 which is keyed to the drive shaft 52 is in meshing engagement with a gear 56 secured to a cam shaft 58 rotatably mounted in the frame of the machine. A bevel-gear 60 is keyed to the cam shaft 58 and meshes with a bevel-gear 82 pinned to the lower end of a shaft 64 which is rotatably supported by the main frame. A crank 68 (Fig. 3) is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 64 and carries a roll 68 constructed and arranged successively to engage within slots 18 formed in a cam plate '12 which is positioned beneath the turret 48 and is secured to the turret. An arouate portion 74 of the crank 66 is in engagement with one of a plurality of concave surfaces 16 of the plate when one of the covering units of the turret is positioned at the operating station 58, the arrangement being such that after the turret has been indexed, it is held against rotation during the time the cover 20 is being applied to the heel 22 at the covering station 58. The turret 48 and the cam plate 12 are rotatably mounted upon a cylindrical extension 18 (Fig. 4) of a bearing which supports the turret and the cam plate 12 and which is secured by screws 82 to the main frame.

The bracket 34 upon which the heel holder 30 and the operating mechanism therefor is mounted is secured to the top of the cylindrical extension 18 by screws 35 as above stated. In order to support the front end of the turret 48 against downward displacement during the heelcovering operation, the bottom face of the turret is continuously in engagement with a brace 86 (Fig. 4) secured by screws 88 to a circular plate 90 which is fastened to the machine frame by screws 92.

The heel holder 38 comprises a rear abutment 94 provided with a plurality of sharp teeth 96 for engaging the central portion of the attaching face of the heel, and a front abutment 98 constructed and arranged to engage the tread and the breast faces of the heel. The front abutment 88 is adjustably secured through a slot-and-screw connection 5 80 with relation to an abutment carrier I02 mounted upon a bearing rod I04. The abutment carrier I02 may be adjustably secured through the provision of a slotand-screw connection I06 to an arm I08 which is pivotally mounted upon the bearing rod I04. The arm I88 is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a roll H0 which is mounted upon a rocker arm H2, during a portion of the cycle of operation of the machine, thereby swinging the front abutment 98 away from the rear abutment 94, the arm I08 at all times being held in contact with the roll H0 through the provision of a spring H4. The lower part of the spring H4 is positioned within a cavity formed in a lever H6 and the upper part of the spring fits within a cavity of the arm I08. The effective strength of the spring H4 may be varied by turning a screw II8 which is in threaded engagement with the arm Hi8 and engages a washer I28 which is inserted in the cavity and engages the upper end of the spring. A grip plate I22 is secured to the lever I I6 by screws I24 and is positioned in front of the rear abutment 94.

When the machine is started by stepping upon a treadle I25 which trips a one-revolution clutch E26, the roll IIIl of the rocker arm H2 is raised thereby permitting the spring I I4 to cause the front abutment 98 to swing toward'the rear abutment 94, the attaching face of the heel being forced with considerable pressure against the eeth 96 of the rear abutment as the grip plate I22 is flexed. In order to position the heel in the holder 36 the operator forces the attaching face of the heel against the flexible grip plate I22 and moves the tread and breast faces of the heel into engagement with the abutment 94. The heel is centralized in the holder by sight and has its lip forced into engagement with a gage I23 which is adjustably secured to the grip plate I22. When the operator releases his hold on the heel the grip plate forces the heel against the front abutment 93 with suflicient pressure to retain the heel in position until the abutment 98 forces the attaching face of the heel against the teeth 96 of the rear abutment 94. Heels of different pitches may be accommodated in the machine by adjusting the abutment $8 with relation to the abutment carrier 52, and heels of different heights may be accommodated in the machine by adjusting the abutment carrier I02 with relation to the arm I08.

The rocker arm I I2 is mounted upon a bearing !.28 secured to the bracket 34 and is pivotally connected to a rod I30 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever I32 mounted upon a bearing I34 supported by the machine frame. The lower end of the bell-crank lever I32 carries a follower roll I 36 which ensages Within a groove I40 of a cam I42 keyed to the shaft 58.

The depending portion 44 of each of the pads 38 engages a base pad I44 (Figs. 10 and 12) of soft rubber, which is mounted upon the turret 48 beneath the opening 42 formed between the plates 45 and fills a recess I46 formed in the upper surface of the turret 48. In order to improve the effective operation of the pad 38 when operating upon heels having sharp curvatures, the pad is provided with a pocket I48 which is filled with sand I49 consisting of round particles which shift readily under pressure during the heel-covering operation. The sand is inserted in the pocket I48 through a tube I5I (Fig. 10) which is in threaded relation with a cap I53.

As the heel holder 38 is swung toward the pad, the upper end of the rear face of the heel engages the cover positioned upon the pad (Fig. 6) and upon continued movement (Fig. 7) of the holder 38, the rear face of the heel is swung against the cover and into the pad thereby causing the cover to be applied to the rear face of the heel progressively from the attaching face to the top-lift receiving face of the heel. As the rear face of the heel is swung against the cover and into the pad 38 the portion I59 (Fig. '7) of the pad which is located immediately in advance of the portion of the pad applying the cover to the heel, assumes a convex shape, as viewed from the side of the heel. The convex portion 25% of the pad is tensioned and travels progressively ahead of the portion of the cover which is being applied to the heel as the holder 34 continues its downward swinging movement. It will be noted that throughout the covering operation the lateral portions of the cover are forced against the pad 38 by a pair of clamps H2. The clamps I52 are yieldingly movable under pressure of the pad and will later be described in detail.

The pad may be made entirely of rubber as will later be described. It has been found preferable.

however, to provide the pad with the pocket I48 which is filled with the round particles of sand M9 in order to insure that when full Louis heels are being covered, convex cover-applying surfaces of sharp curvatures shall be formed on the pad. The sand E49 offers a substantial amount of resistance to displacement and provides a firm backing for the cover-supporting surface of the pad 3&3. As the heel in the holder 30 swings downwardly against the cover and into the pad 38 the convex portion I50 of the pad moves toward the tread end of the heel and rolls the cover against the rear face of the heel as it travels along the same. The cover may therefore be described as being applied to the heel by the traveling wave action of the pad 38. The pad 38 is freely movable under pressure with relation to the supports 4i), thereby permitting the pad to creep relatively to the heel as it is compressed between the heel and the supports. The pad 38 therefore stretches the cover as it applies the same to the heel. The bearing 32 about which the holder 30 is rotated is so arranged that the heel being covered has a rearward component of movement while it forces the heel against the cover and into the pad.

After the cover has been applied to the rear face of the heel, the pad supports 40 are swung upon trunnions 46 to cause the pad to wrap the cover 24 about the sides of the heel. The holder 3!! in the meanwhile continues to force the heel into the central portion of the pad 38 and into the opening 42. As above stated, the supports 40 are usually swung into the upright positions best illustrated in Fig. 12 in order to apply the projecting margins 24, 26 and 28 of the cover to the attaching, the breast, and the top-lift receiving faces of the heel. The mechanism for operating the supports 40 will be described later.

The opening 42 formed between the spaced supports 443 is enlarged at its rear end in order to accommodate the wide upper portion of the heel. As shown in Fig. 8, when the machine is idle the axes I54 about which the supports 40 are swung are spaced from and positioned above corresponding inner ends or end faces I56 of the supports 46, the arrangement being such that as the supports 44 swing to the vertical-positions, the opposing end faces I56 of the respective supports 49 move away from each other, thereby increasing the width of the opening 42 in order t insure that the resistance to downward movement of the heel shall not be excessive.

As the heel is forced into pad 38 and the supports 44 are swung about the heel the sand I 49 located in the pocket I48 of the pad shifts under pressure to form a convex portion or wave I58 (Fig. 8) which extends generally heightwise of the heel and follows the curvature of the'heel. As above stated, the sand provides a relatively firm backing for the work-engaging portion of the pad. The unlaid portion of the cover positioned between the heel and the clamps I56 is tensioned throughout the covering operation. As above stated, the pad 38 is not secured to the respective supports and is therefore free to creep underpressure with relation to the supports as the cover is applied to the heel. Although the supports 88 are illustrated as being mounted for swinging movement about fixed pivots it will be understood that in defining the supports as being mounted for angular movement it is not intended that the axes about which the supports are swung'shall necessarily be fixed.

Each of the clamps I52 is pivotally mounted upon a rod I88 which is secured by a screw I62 to a clamp carrier I64 mounted upon the bearing 32. The clamps I52 are normally retained in their lowered positions upon the respective rods I30 by springs I66 the rear end of each of which is secured to the rod I60 and the front end of each of which engages an end of a notch I81 formed in the clamp. After the clutch I26 has been tripped to operate the machine the clamps I52 (Fig. 5) are swung downwardly into engagement with the respective lateral margins of the cover supported by the pad 38, under the action of a strong spring I68, the lower end of which is secured to a rear extension I'I0 of the carrier I63 and the upper end of which is secured to the bracket 34.

In order to insure that the clamps I52 shall not be engaged by the pad 38 wrapped about the heel or by the closed supports 40 (Fig. 4) during the indexing of the turret 48, the clamps are positively moved to raised positions against the pressure of the spring I68 by a connecting rod I12. The upper end of the connecting rod H2 is pivotally secured to the rearward extension I'll] of the clamp carrier I64 and the lower end of the connecting rod is pivotally secured to a bell-crank lever I'I'4 which is held against an open cam track I'IS by the spring I68. After the turret 48 has been indexed the clamps I52 are permitted to move downwardly under action of the spring I68 until they are positioned just above the margins of the open pad 38 (Fig. 1).

As the supports 40 and the lateral margins of the pad 38 are swung upwardly the clamps I52 swing inwardly (Fig. 9) about the respective rods I08 against the action of springs I68, and after turning through approximately 90 are rotated about the bearing 32 against the action of the spring I88. After the cover has been applied to the heel (Fig. 14) a high portion of the cam track I78 moves into engagement with the bell-crank lever I14 to raise the clamps I52 above the closed supports 48 (Fig. 4).

The heel holder 30 is operated by a rod I'IB, the upper end of which is pivotally secured to the rear end of the lever H8 and the lower end of which is adjustably secured through the provision of a slot I80 to a bell-crank lever I82 which carries a roll I84 constructed and arranged to engage within a cam groove I88. The clamps I52 lead the holder 30 in order to insure that the margins of the cover are forced against the pad 38 before the heel 22, carried by the holder 30, forces the cover into the pad.

After the heel 22 has been covered the front abutment 98 is swung away from the rear abutment and the holder is raised above the closed supports 48 to permit the turret 48 to be indexed. Suitable mechanism which will be described later is provided for causing the: supports 40 to retain the pad 38 in clamped relation with the heel until the unit of the turret has been indexed to a discharge station I88 (Fig. 3).

The supports 48 are swung about their respective axes I54 by a pair of arms I90 provided with rolls I92, respectively, which move into engagement with faces I94 (Fig. 12) of the supports. The arms I90 are pivotally secured to a slide I96 (Fig. 2), a rear portion of which is mounted for vertical movement along a guideway I98 (Fig. 4) formed in the circular cover 90. The slide I98 carries a rearwardly extending cam roll 200 constructed and arranged to engage within a groove 202 of a cam 204 secured to the forward end of the cam shaft 58. The lower ends of the arms I90 carry rolls 206 (Figs. 2 and 4) which engage within guideways 208 formed in the rear face of a cam plate 2I0. The cam plate 2I8 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 2I2 (Fig. 2) of suitable size to receive screws 2 I4, respectively, which are in threaded engagement with the circular cover plate 90. It will be noted that the upper ends of the guideways 208 diverge from the plane of swinging movement of the holder 30 in order to cause the arms I80 to swing toward each other at the top of their strokes. rangement the supports 40 are moved sufficiently close to each other to insure that they shall effectively apply covers to the lateral margins of the attaching, the breast, and the top-lift receiving faces, respectively, of the heel as above described.

In order to retain the supports 40 in their closed positions (Figs. 11 and 12) while the turret 48 is being indexed to the discharge station I88 (Fig. 3), each of the supports 40 is provided with a rearwardly extending lug 2I6 arranged to engage a serrated lever 2I8 (Fig. 5) which is pivoted upon a bracket 220 secured to the turret 48 and is rigidly connected to an arm 222. The arm 222 carries a roll 224 which is constantly urged by a spring 226 (Figs. 4 and '10) against a bar 228 which is supported by a projection of the bracket 220. The bar 228 is normally in contact with the projection of the bracket 220 under action of a spring 230 surrounding a rod 232 which is secured to the bar 228 and carries a roll 234. As the supports 40 are swung to their closed positions they force the lugs 2I6 against the respective serrated arms 2 I8 which swing upwardly against the tension of the springs 226 (Fig. 4). The serrated arms 2I8 thus prevent the supports 40 from opening under action of the pad 38 after the arms I90 have been lowered. In order to permit the supports 40 to open when the unit has been indexed to the discharge station I88 (Fig. 3) a cam 235 is secured to the frame of the machine. each of the rolls 234 (Fig. 4) engages the cam 236 the rod 232 raises the bar 228 against the action of the spring 230 and forces the arms 222 which are already held in raised positions upwardly, thereby swinging the serrated levers 2I8 upwardly out of engagement with the lugs 2I6 and permitting the supports 40 to drop to their open positions. The covered heel is then removed from the machine.

Although the machine has been described with reference to the pad 38 having the pocket I48 which is filled with sand, it will be understood that a pad 240 (Fig. 13) formed of a single piece of rubber may be used. If desirable, the pad 240 may be provided with a pair of upstanding gages I42 which are engaged by the cover and assist the operator in positioning the same upon the pad.

Preparatory to covering the heel, the edge portions of which have been coated with cement, the operator forces the attaching face of the heel against the gripper plate I22 and simultaneously therewith moves the lip of the heel into engagement with the gage I23 and also moves the breast and tread faces of the heel into en- With such an argagement with the abutment 98. After placing the cover upon the pad 38 the operator steps upon the treadle I25 thereby tripping a onerevolution clutch I26. As the cam I62 rotates the rod I30 is lowered to permit the abutment 98 to force the heel under action of the spring I it, against the teeth 96 of the abutment 9d, the clamps I52 in the meantime being lowered under the action of the spring I68 to force the margin of the cover against the pad 38. The holder is then swung downwardly to force the heel against the cover and into the pad thereby applying the cover to the rear face of the heel progressively from the attaching end to the tread end of the heel. When the cover has been applied to the rear face of the heel the arms I96 are raised and at the top of their stroke are swung toward each other to move the supports 49 to their closed positions thereby applying the cover to the sides of the heel as well as to the margins of the breast, the tread, and the attaching faces of the heel. After the heel has been covered theholder 36 and the clamps I52 are raised and the arms 199 are lowered to permit the machine to be indexed. The supports 40 are held in their closed positions when the arms I90 have been lowered, by the serrated levers 2l8, which are in engagement with the lugs 2l6 of the respective supports Mi. When the machine has been indexed to the discharge station l88 the cam 236, through the above-described mechanism, forces the serrated levers 2 l8 away from the lugs 2 I 6 and permits the supports 40 to be lowered under action of the pad to their open positions. The covered heel is then removed from the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a covering machine, means for applying a cover to the rear face of a heel progressively from one end of the heel to the other, and cooperating means for then applying said cover to opposite sides of the heel progressively toward the breast of the heel.

2. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, and means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the pad, said holder and said pad being constructed and arranged to apply a cover to the rear face of the heel progressively from one end of the heel to the other and then to apply the cover progressively to opposite sides of the heel during said relative movement.

3. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, means comprising a resilient pad, and mechanism for effecting relative angular movement of the holder and the pad in a path disposed in parallel relation to a plane extending generally heightwise of the heel and also in a path disposed in parallel arrangement to a plane extending generally transversely of the heel to apply a cover to the heel.

4. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, and mechanism for angularly moving the holder substantially in a path disposed in parallel relation to a plane and simultaneously therewith angularly moving portions of the pad in paths disposed in parallel relation respectively to planes which are disposed at substantial angles to said first-named plane.

5. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad, supports for the pad, and means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the supports to cause a cover supported by the pad and the heel carried by the holder to be forced against each other, said holder and said supports being constructed and arranged to form a traveling wave in the pad during said relative movement whereby to cause a convex portion of the pad progressively to apply the cover to the heel as it tensions the cover.

6. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad containing material which resists displacement to a considerable extent, supports for the pad, and means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the supports to cause a cover supported by the pad and the heel carried 'by the holder to be forced against each other, said holder and said supports being constructed and arranged to form a relatively hard convex portion of the pad which progressively applies the cover to the heel while stretching the same.

7. In a. covering machine, a holder for a heel, a relatively thick resilient pad having a pocket filled with sand, supports for the pad, and means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the supports to cause a cover supported by the pad and the heel carried by the holder to be forced against each other, said holder and said supports being constructed and arranged to form a traveling wave in the pad during said relative movement whereby to cause'a convex portion of the pad progressively to apply the cover to the heel as it tensions the cover.

8. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad having a pocket filled with a displaceable material, and means: for effecting relative movement of the holder and the pad, the holder and the pad being constructed and arranged to apply a cover supported by the pad to the rear face of the heel progressively from one end of the heel to the other and then to apply the cover progressively to opposite sides of the heel. I

9. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad, members for supporting the pad, means for moving the holder to force the heel against a cover and into the pad thereby applying a portion of the cover to a portion of the heel, means for moving said members to wrap the pad about the heel thereby applying other portions of the cover to other portions of the heel, and mechanism movable with and under pressure of the pad constructed and arranged to cause the unlaid portion of the cover upon the pad to be tensioned.

10. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the pad to apply a cover mounted upon the pad to the heel, and a pair of clamps for forcing the cover against the respective lateral margins of the pad during the coverapplying operation, each of said clamps being mounted for movement about two axes disposed at substantial angles to each other.

11. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, means for swinging the holder in a path disposed in parallel relation to a plane to force the heel against a cover which is in engagement with the pad thereby to apply a portion of the cover to the heel, means for swinging the lateral margins of the pad toward said path of movement of the holder to apply other portions of the cover to the heel, resilient mechanism, and a pair of holddown clamps each of which is movable about two axes disposed at right angles to one another, said clamps being constructed and arranged to force the cover against the lateral margins of the pad under action of said resilient mechanism in order to tension the cover forced into the pad by the heel during the heel-covering operation.

12. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, means for swinging the holder in a path disposed in parallel relation to a Plane, a pad for supporting a cover, spaced members for supporting the pad, means for swinging the members toward and away from said path, resilient means, and a pair of clamps for forcing the respective lateral margins of the cover against the pad, each of said clamps being mounted for movement against the action of said resilient means.

13. In a covering machine, a holder for a work piece, a resilient pad for supporting a cover, said holder being mounted for angular movement in a plane, a pair of pad supports: positioned at opposite sides of and spaced from. said plane, and means for operating the holder and the supports to apply the cover to the work piece.

14. In a covering machine, a holder for a work piece, said holder being mounted for movement about an axis, a resilient pad for supporting a cover to be applied to the Work piece, a pair of supports for the pad, each of said supports being movable about an axis which is disposed at a substantial angle to the first-named axis, and means for moving the holder and the supports to apply said cover to the work piece.

15. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad of substantial thickness for supporting a cover, a pair of members constructed and arranged to support the pad and spaced to form an opening which is bridged by the pad, means for forcing the rear face of the heel against the cover supported by the pad and into said opening to apply the cover to said rear face, and means for swinging said members around the heel to apply the cover to the sides of the heel.

16. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a pair of members spaced to form an opening, a pad of resilient material a central portion of which is constructed and arranged to fit within said opening and the lateral margins of which are supported by the respective members, mechanism for swinging the holder with relation to the pad to apply a cover to the rear face of the heel progressively from one end of the heel to the other, and means for swinging the respective members around the heel to apply the cover to the side faces of the heel, the lateral margins of the pad being free to move with relation to said members during the covering operation thereby permitting the pad to creep under pressure relatively to said members.

17. In a covering machine, a pair of members spaced to form an opening, a pad supported by said members and extending into said opening, a holder for a heel, and means for moving the holder to force the heel against a cover supported by the pad and into the opening, said members being mounted for swinging movement about axes which are positioned near opposing sides of the respective supports and which overlie portions of the respective pad-supporting surfaces of the supports.

18. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a pair of members spaced to form an opening, a pad of resilient material for supporting a cover, said pad being constructed and arranged to fit within the opening and having lateral portions which are supported by the respective members, mechanism for swinging the holder relatively to the pad to force the rear face of the heel progressively heightwise against the cover and into the pad thereby applying the cover to the rear face of the heel, and means for swinging the members about the heel to apply the cover to the sides of the heel.

19. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, a support for the pad, means for effecting relative movement of the holder and the pad in a curved path to apply a cover positioned between the heel and the pad to the rear face of the heel, said support comprising portions constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides respectively of said pad, and means for swinging said portions of the support toward the path of movement of the holder to apply the cover to the sides of the heel, the pad being free to creep with relation to the support as the cover is applied to the heel.

20. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad, a support for the pad, means for operating the holder to apply a portion of a cover supported by the pad to the heel, said support comprising portions movable relatively to each other to apply other portions of the cover to the heel, and clamps for forcing the cover against the pad during the covering operation, each of said clamps being mounted for movement with and under pressure of the pad.

21. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad constructed and arranged to be engaged by a cover, a. pair of members for supporting the pad, said members being arranged to provide an opening one end of which is wider than the other, mechanism for operating the holder to force the heel against the cover supported by the pad and into said opening thereby to apply the cover to the rear face of the heel, and means for swinging the respective members about axes which extend generally lengthwise of the opening and are positioned in close proximity to the respective sides of the opening thereby to apply the cover to the sides of the heel.

22. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad to be engaged by a cover, a pair of members for supporting the pad, said members being arranged to provide an opening one end of which is wider than the other, and mechanism for operating the holder to force the heel against the cover supported by the pad and into said opening, each of said members being mounted for movement about an axis which is spaced from the opening and overlies the padengaging face of such member.

23. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a relatively thick pad of deformable material, a pair of supports opposing sides of which are spaced to form an opening, the supports being mounted for movement about axes respectively, and means for operating the holder and the supports to apply a cover to the heel, said axes being so arranged that said opposing sides of the respective supports move away from each other as the cover is being applied to the heel.

24. In a covering machine, a holder for a work piece, a resilient pad for supporting a cover to be applied to the work piece, and a pair of rigid supports for the pad, the supports being spaced to form an opening and being mounted for movement about axes extending generally lengthwise of and arranged in close proximity to the opposing sides of the respective supports.

25. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a deformable pad for supporting a cover, said holder comprising abutments constructed and arranged to engage the top-lift receiving and the attaching faces respectively of the heel, resilient means for normally urging one of said abutments toward the other to clamp the heel, mechanism for moving said one abutment away from the other abutment against the action of said resilient means during a portion of the cycle of operation of the machine, and means for moving the holder with relation to the pad.

26. In a machine for covering heels, a turret, a plurality of units mounted upon the turret, each of said units comprising a resilient pad and supports for the pad, a holder for a heel, mechanism for operating the holder to force the heel into the pad of one of the units which is arranged in the path of movement of the holder thereby to apply a cover mounted upon the pad to the rear face of the heel, means for operating the supports of said one unit to cause the pad to apply the cover to the sides of the heel, means for indexing the turret, and means for retaining the pad in wrapped relation with the heel during the indexing of the turret.

27. In a covering machine, a turret, a plurality of units mounted upon the turret, each-of said units comprising a deformable pad and supporting means therefor, a heel holder, means for operating the heel holder with relation to the turret to apply a cover supported by the pad to the rear face of a heel carried by the holder, mechanism for operating the pad-supporting means to apply the cover to the sides of the heel, and mechanism for indexing the turret.

28. In a covering machine, a turret, a plurality of units mounted upon the turret, each of said units comprising a deformable pad and a pair of spaced supports therefor, a heel holder, means for swinging the holder and the supports relatively to each other to. apply a cover mounted upon the pad to the heel, means for indexing the turret, means for retaining the pad in wrapped relation with the heel during a predetermined arc of travel of the turret, and means for releasing the supports to permit the same to swing away from each other when the turret has been indexed to a predetermined position preparatory to removing the covered heel from the machine.

29. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a pad for supporting a cover, members for supporting the pad, means for moving the holder in a predetermined path to force the heel against the cover and into a portion of the pad, and means for swinging said members during a portion of the movement of the holder in said path.

30. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a pad for supporting a cover, means for moving the holder in a curved path to cause the heel to be forced against the cover and into the central portion of the pad thereby to apply the cover to the rear face of the heel, and a pair of rigid supports for swinging the margins of the pad around the heel as the holder continues to move in said path thereby to apply the cover to the sides of the heel.

31. In a covering machine, a heel holder mounted for movement about an axis, a cover-applying pad, supports for the pad, said supports being mounted for movement about axes respectively disposed at right angles to said first-named axis, and means for simultaneously swinging the holder and the supports about the respective axes.

32. In a covering machine, a pair of supports spaced to form an opening, a pad positioned upon the supports and extending into the opening, a holder for a heel, and means for operating the holder to force the heel against a cover supported by the pad and into the opening thereby to apply the cover to the rear face of the heel, said supports being constructed and arranged to apply the cover to the sides of the heel as the heel is forced into the pad by the holder and simultaneously therewith to increase the width of the opening to permit the heel to be forced readily into the opening.

33. In a covering machine, a turret having a plurality of units which may be moved successively to an operating station and each of which comprises a resilient pad, means for cooperating with the respective units successively arranged at said operating station to wrap the pads around heels thereby to apply covers supported by the pads to the heels, means for locking the pad in wrapped relation with the heels, means for indexing the turret, and means for permitting each of the pads to be released from its wrapped relation with the heel after the unit has been indexed to a predetermined position preparatory to removing the heel from the machine.

34. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a resilient pad, a pair of members for supporting the pad, means for operating the holder to force the heel against a cover upon the pad and into the pad thereby to apply a cover to a portion of the heel, said members being mounted for angular movement to wrap the pad around the heel thereby to apply the cover to other portions of the heel, mechanism for operating said members, and means for varying the extent of angular movement of the members.

35. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a turret having a plurality of units which may be moved successively to and past an operating station positioned adjacent to the holder, each of said units comprising a deformable pad for supporting a cover and a pair of members for supporting the pad, the holder and said members being constructed and arranged to cause the pad to apply the cover to the heel, and mechanism for indexing the turret in timed relation with the holder and the members.

36. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a turret having a plurality of units which may be moved successively to and past a covering station located adjacent to said holder, each of said units comprising a deformable pad for supporting a cover and a pair of members for supporting the pad, means for operating the holder and the members of a unit positioned adjacent to the holder to cause the pad to wrap the cover about and to apply the cover to the heel, means for indexing the turret, and means for maintaining the pad in wrapped relation with the heel while the turret is being indexed thereby permitting adhesive which secures the cover to the heel to dry.

37. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel, a plurality of units which may be moved successively to and past an operating station positioned adjacent to said holder, means for indexing the units, each of said units comprising a resilient pad for supporting a cover and a pair of angularly movable members for supporting the pad, mechanism for operating said holder and said members to wrap the pad about the heel thereby to apply the cover to the heel, and locking means for retaining the pad in wrapped relation with the heel after the cover has been applied thereto until the heel has been indexed to a predetermined position.

38. In a covering machine, a holder for a heel,

a turret comprising a plurality of units which may be moved successively to and past an operating station positioned adjacent to said holder, means for indexing the turret, each of said units comprising a deformable pad for supporting a cover and a pair of members for supporting the pad, means for swinging the holder and the members to cause the pad to apply a cover to the heel, and mechanism for varying the extent of swinging movement of the members.

39. In a covering machine, a deformable pad, a. holder for a heel, a pair of supports for the pad, said holder and said supports being mounted for swinging movement to cause a cover upon the pad to be applied to the heel, and means for varying the extent of swinging movement of the supports.

40. In a covering machine, a deformable pad, a holder for a heel, a pair of spaced supports for the pad, means for swinging the holder, means for swinging the supports, means for temporarily preventing retractive movement of the supports, and means for varying the extent of swinging movement of the supports.

41. In a covering machine, a deformable pad, a holder for a heel, a pair of spaced supports for the pad, means for swinging the holder, a pair of arms for swinging the respective supports, and a ratchet device for preventing retractive move ment of the supports when said arms are moved away from the supports.

LEWIS J. BAZZONI. 

